Guide-rail clamp



(No Model.)

W. P. WYLLY.

GUIDE RAIL CLAMP. No. 392,940. Patented Nov. 13, 1888.

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\VILLIAM P. \VYLLY, OF PATTERSON. GEORGIA.

GUIDE-RAIL CLAMP.

.GPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 392.940, dated November 13, 1888.

Application filed November 10, 1885. Serial X0. 182.394.

To all whom it may concern.- v

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. WYLLY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Patterson, in the county of Pierce and State of Georgia,haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Guide-Rail Clamps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in guide-rail clamps.

It consists, essentially, in a bolt or key fastening the guiderail to main rail, an improved form of distanceblock, in devices for adjust ably securing the same in position between the main and guide rails, so as to adapt the same for use under varying circumstances and for connecting the rails and distanceblock together, and in a heel-brace for bracing the guide-rail in position.

In the accompanying drawings, Figurel represents varied forms of distance-blocks adapted to rest between the main and guide rails. Fig. 2 represents a perspective view of a portion of a track with the guide-rail secured in position according to one of my methods. Fig. 3 represents a sectional end view of a portion of a track, illustrating another form of distanceblock. Fig. 4 represents varied forms of heelbraces for securing the guide-rail in position.

A represents the main rail, and B the guiderail.

The distance block or sleeve placed between the main and guide rails and serving to maintain said rails in their appropriate positions may be of varied form, according to the exigencies of each particular case. As the flanges of car and locomotive wheels project about two inches below the crown of the rails, it is essential that the distance blocks or sleeves and the bolts by which said blocks and the rails and heel-blocks are connected together shall-be sufficiently low to permit of the wheel-flanges passing clear thereof as the wheels pass along the rails. To secure this result 1 construct such distance block or sleeve in either of several forms, each having in view the object No model.)

above mentioned and differing simply in such details or construction as adapt them for use in different localities and to suit diderent fancies. For instance, the distance-block may be made of a simple block of wood, of square. o|olong, or other suitable shape, as represented at a, with a hole or recess, f, transversely therethrough. through which the boltj is passed to secure the respective rails, blocks, guide rail, and heel-brace together. One advantage of constructing the distance-block of wood is that the same can be readily compressed to take up the wear or the guide-rail; but the distanceblock may be formed of any other material, such as iron. steel, &c. Another form of distance-blocl: is represented at c. This is formed of either wood, metal, or other suitable material, and has concaved central portion, (2. upwardly'extending sides or wings e, and holes or slotsf formed in said sides. The lower portion of each side or face of the distanceblock is curved, as shown at g, to permit of its fitting snugly against the webs of the respective rails; or the distance block may be formed of a section of gas or water pipe, as shown at h, with a recessed or cutaway portion, t, in its upper face. By forming the distance-block ofpipe or tubular form, as here represented, its lower portion will fit snugly against the webs of the rails. By forming these distance-blocks with slots. holes. or recesses in their upper portions, as represented, the sides of said blocks are permitted to fit snugly against the inner faces of the ad I jacent rails and to extend up to the under side of the crowns thereof, and thus materially brace the rails, the object of forming in the upper part or the distance-blocks the slots. holes, or recesses, which extend far enough down to clear the path of the flanges or the wheels, being to insure the bolt j, by which said block and the rails are connected together. passing therethrough in aposition low enough to clear the line of travel of the wheel-flanges.

and thus prevent interference between them. In cases where the distance block or sleeve available is not of sufficient width, or where the wear has been such that the sides thereor will not fit snugly against the sides of the rails. I place one or more washers or shims, k, in position between the distance block or sleeve and either or both of the rails, as shown. in some instances it is found desirable to construct the distance block or sleeve with a view to the use of such washers or shims in connection therewith,as then,when it is desired for any purpose to remove the distance block or sleeve, upon the bolt j being withdrawn the washers will drop down or can be slipped off the same and the distance-block the more readily removed without disturbing the rails than could be done were it of a width equal to the space between the rails. The boltj, for securing the rails,may be of any desired construetion-such as round or square or flat, or what may be called a gib-headcd key, with split pin for securing itand may be held in place either by a key, Z, passed through a slot or hole, m, in one end of the bolt; or one end of the bolt may be screw-threaded to receive a nut, 01, and either suchnut or key may be employed separately or conjointly for the purpose of securing the bolt in position.

0 represents one or more washers or plates resting against the outer face of the main-line rail and between it and the nut 92, for the purpose of bringing the nut it out far enough beyond the arch of the rail to enable a wrench easily gripping said nut. As every trackgang is provided with a ratchet-drill and brace for piecing broken or worn rails, it will be an easy matter for them at slight expense to apply my belt protection and clamping devices on every guide-rail, if furnished with distance blocks or sleeves and shims or washers. The distance-blocks, whether they be of wood or metal and of either of the forrns shown and described herein, may be made either in sections-one for each bolt-or they may be made of greater lengths, so as to extend either from end to end of the guide-rail or any desired portion of the length thereof, and of any desired or suitable width and thickness, according to requirement.

represents a heel-brace, which at its lower inner portion is rearwardly or outwardly curved and recessed to adapt it to fit over the outer web of the guide-rail, as shown at q, and has a reawardly-extending flange, a, which is spiked to the cross-tie, a slot being preferably formed in the flange to receive the spike. The

, upper end of this heel-brace is of curved form,

as represented at s, to adapt it to embrace the lower part of the crown of the guide-rail. In some instances, where it is desired to impart additional strength and rigidity to the heelbrace, I form the same with side wings or webs, t, extending outwardly from each edge and from top to bottom thereof. \Vhen the heelbrace is secured in position by bolting the same to the guide-rail and spiking it to the crossties, it will be readily seen that in connection with the distance block or blocks employed said guide-rail will be very effectively and rigidly clamped in position with very little possibility of the rails becoming loose, and whenever in course of time the distance-block should require adjustment or the wear ofany of the parts require to be taken up, such can be readily accomplished by tightening up the bolt or by removing or adding washers or shims when it is found desirable to employ such.

In some instances I construct the heel-brace as represented at O-that is, with a flange, r, to adapt it to be spiked to the cross-ties,'a-nd with a lower curved inner face, q, to adapt it to rest against the web of the guide-rail, and with its inner end, which rests against the outer face of the guide-rail, of increased thickness, as shown at D, to constitute a washer, which serves to strengthen the brace to adapt it to resist the lateral thrust of the flanges of the wheels.

The heel-brace may be made of any metal strong enough to resist the lateral thrust of the wheel-flanges. It is used as an auxiliary to the bolt. As the expansion and contraction of rails are unequal, the bolt being so much smaller and the lateral thrust of the flanges so great, the spring of the rails might, were the heel-braces absent, cause a defective bolt head or nut to fly off. The heeled brace fitting close to the shank and web of the guide-rail,with its upper edge abutting against the under side and clasping the crown thereof and its heel spiked to the cross-tie, will be an extra insurance of safety to both the bolt and rail.

By constructing the distance-blocks so that the bolts j shall be below thepath of the flanges of the wheels the danger of the flanges of the wheels cutting off or in any way injuring the bolts is avoided.

An effective fastening for securing the main and guide rails may be obtained by the use simply of a bolt passing therethrough,as shown in Fig. 4. The bolt may be of any approved shape-such as round, square, fiat, &c.and in the arrangement shown in Fig. 4it maybe secured in position either by a nut or bya key, or by both. As the inner flanges of the rails abut, the rails are thereby and by the spikes clamping said rails to the cross-ties braced against movement inward. By connecting the rails in either manner shown and described herein they are braced against the lateral thrust of the flanges. By the construction and application of the devices herein described I am enabled to not only save an immense amount of spikes and cross-ties, but my invention also IIO simplifies and economizes material and time,

besides giving all the assurance of safety pos sible, as one can not only use my devices, but also the usual spikes, braces, 850., that are now ineffectual in keeping the guard-rail in place, owing to the severe lateral thrust of the flanges of wheels as they pass between the main and guide rail.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. A guide-rail clamp consisting of a distance block or sleeve, a heel-brace embracing the outer face and crown of the guide-rail and resting on the tie, and means, substantially as described, for adj ustably connecting the main and guide rails, distance-block, and heel-brace together, as and for the purpose described.

2. In a guide-rail clamp, the combination of a distance block or sleeve having its bottom portion and sides of a shape to snugly fit the flanges and inner faces of the adjacent rails, and'having a bolt-receiving slot, recess, or hole below the line of travel of the flanges of the wheels, a heel-brace adapted to embrace the flanges, outer face, and crown of the guide-rail and resting on the tie, and a bolt connecting the main and guide rails, distance-block, and heel-brace together, substantially as set forth.

3. In a guide-rail clamp, the combination of a distance blockorsleevehavingoneorniore boltreceiving holes, slots, or recesses below the path of the wheel-flanges, one or more washers interposed between the distance-block and the adjacent rail, and a bolt for connecting said block, washers, and rails together, substantially as set forth.

4. In a guide-rail clamp, the combination of a distance block or sleeve having one or more bolt-receiving holes, slots,or recesses below the path of the wheel-flanges, one or more washers interposed between said block or sleeve and the adjacent rail, a heel brace adapted to grip and snugly fit the outer face and the crown of the guide-rail and rest upon the tie, and a bolt connecting the main and guide rails, distance -block, and heel-brace, substantially as set forth.

5. In a guide-rail clamp, the combination of a distance block or sleeve having one or more holes, slots, or recesses therein to per mit of the connecting-bolt passing clear of the path of the wheel-flanges, one or more washers interposed between said block or sleeve and the adjacent rail, a heel-brace adapted to grip and snugly lit the outer face and the crown of the guide-railand rest upon the tie, a bolt connecting the main and guide rails and the clamping devices, and a washer or plate interposed between the main-line rail and the securing device, substantially as set forth.

6. In a guide-rail clamp, a distance-block having curved sides to adapt it to rest snugly against and grip the sides, heels, and crowns of the main and guide rails, and one or more recesses in its upper portion to receive the connecting-bolt and permit of said bolt passing between the rails below the path of the flanges of the wheels of passing cars.

7. In a guide-rail clamp, the combination or a distance block or sleeve having one or more recesses, slotscor holes therein to permit or the connecting-bolt passing clear of the path of the wheel-flanges, one or more washers interposed between said block or sleeve and the adjacent rail, a heel-brace adapted to grip and snugly fit the outer face and the crown of the guide-rail, a bolt connecting the main and guide rails and the clamping devices, and a washer or plate interposed between the mainline rail and the bolt-securing device, substantially as set forth.

8. A guide-rail clamp having a distance block or sleeve adapted to receive a connecting-bolt in aposition below the path of the wheel-flanges, a bolt connecting the rails and distance-block. means, substantially as described, for retaining said bolt in position. a heel-brace adapted to grip and snugly fit the outer face and the crown of the guide-rail,and a washer or plate resting against the outer face of the main rail and between it and the bolt-fastening for the purpose of bringing the bolt-fastening beyond the crown of the main rail, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM P. l/VYLLY.

lVitn esscs:

L. C. WYLLY, E. Z. BYRD. 

